Captivating and curious: An exhibition case study

Abstract:

Captivating and Curious opened at the National Museum of Australia on 14 December 2005. This exhibition explored the history of the National Historical Collection (NHC), the Museum's main collection, from its origins in the Institute of Anatomy through to the present day. One of the most successful temporary exhibitions ever organised by the Museum, Captivating and Curious demonstrated the public's strong interest in the idea of the National Museum as a repository of the nation's treasures. Initially intended as a modest survey of the Museum's collecting activity over time, the exhibition quickly evolved into an important statement of the worth and value of the NHC.